Feet crunched in the thin fall of snow.
It was the first snowfall of the season. Thin, and white, and very cold. It lay over the valley like a veil of starlight. Hallowing the land that was no longer green.
Elrond turned and regarded the three figures who approached him.
Estel had grown, he saw, in his time away. The figure he looked at was no longer a youth. Looking at him, Elrond was reminded of the boy's father. Arathorn had looked very like his son, at his age, though there had been less of Numenor in his face.
Eighteen years, it would have been. Eighteen years since a girl with fair hair had fled into the valley, with a young child clutched against her breast.
Elladan and Elrohir, were much as he had expected them to be.
"I trust all went well?" he asked, regarding them.
"It was even as you said," Elladan answered him.
Elrohir continued, "Three more of them had come down from the mountains, some time ago, by the look of it."
Elladan's eyes glittered. "They will trouble us no longer."
Elrond looked at his fosterling. "And Estel did his part?"
The young man raised his chin, "As best it was known to me."
"He did well, Father," Elladan assured him. Elrohir insisted on the same.
"That is good to hear," Elrond drew his foot across the balcony through the thin crust of snow. "For I have received news."
Laughter spurted up, high and thin and clear from somewhere below.
Smiling, Elrond looked up at them. "Your sister is returning."
Long Arwen had dwelt in the shadow of the golden trees, in the forests of her mother. The woods Celebrian had loved. But she had grown finally to miss the home of her youth, and she wished to return ere the midwinter feasting began.
"I would have you ride to meet her."
Estel stepped forward, from between the twins, "My Lord Elrond," he gave a slight bow. "Gladly would I do this thing, if it is your will. But it has been long, and my mother has been heavy on my mind these last days, and I am reminded that she is alone."
"You should go to her," Elrond agreed, pleased with the youth he had raised. "The wolves have been fierce in Eriador, and your coming will be a blessing to them." Stepping forward, he put a hand on Estel's shoulder. He was taller than he'd been, and more broad. "She will be overjoyed to see how you have grown," he smiled.
"The three of you, wash, and rest. You will set out soon enough."
Elrond turned back to the view of the valley, in the snow, under the sun.
A footstep paused by the door, and a voice asked him, "All is well, my Lord Elrond?"
"My daughter is coming home, Lindir," Elrond answered him. "How could it be anything but?"